Hugh's Finalist Fury
PATIENCE IS running low at St Hugh's this week due to the continued chaos caused by the delay in completion of a new accommodation block.
Some of the Finalists being housed in emergency hotel accommodation were due to move into the first two floors of the so called 'New Building' this Monday. However, by Sunday evening there was still no gaurantee that undergradutes would be able to move in. On the Monday morning, many students were forced to check out of their temporary accommodation by 12 noon, but were only told at 1.30pm that the New Building was "habitable" after last minute checks.
However, tempers have again been raised following the move into the unfinished building after JCR checks uncovered a litany of potentially dangerous and incomplete work. These included the kitchens being unready for use, 2 stairways out of reach and rubble still littering the site. Though students with rooms on the first two floors have had to move in, they have been informed that work is likely to continue on around them for the next 2 weeks.
Raph Mokades, JCR President, told the Oxford Student of his concerns for students' health and safety. Having spent a few hours on the site on Tuesday afternoon, he reports to have suffered from inhalation of enveloping paint fumes and dust.
The college's timetable of moving all Finalists into the New Building by Monday 3rd week, has also been thrown into doubt. A prelimanry investigation by the JCR has estimated that the third floor may not be finished this term.
At a JCR meeting on Sunday an appeal was issued by the JCR Commitee to any undergraduates whose parents specialize in Construction Law and may be willing to act for the JCR.
At a heated meeting, the prospect of the JCR taking legal action against those responsible for the delay was considered. However, it was felt that the lack of information from St Hugh's SCR over the nature of the contracts signed would make this difficult. JCR requests for accurate information on the amount of compensation which St Hugh's is recieving have also fallen on deaf ears. Rumours that College may be recieving up to £14,000 per day have angered many distressed finalists who have so far been offered no compensation.
Fears over the health and academic welfare of those suffering as a result of the New Building prompted an emergency JCR meeting on Tuesday night. The meeting was attended by most of those who are meant to be living in New Building and the most recent safety concerns represented the last straw for many disgruntled students.
The emergency meeting concluded that the JCR should seek further independent advice on the actual progress of the New Building and the JCR's legal position.
The meeting further resolved for all those affected by the New Building to march en-masse to the office of the Principal Derek Woods QC and make it clear that they are unwilling to pay their battels bill in full and will actively seek compensation.
Speaking to the Oxford Student , JCR President Raph Mokades was keen to stress that Thurdsays proposed action would not constitue a full rent-strike but that ultimately, rent strikes might be employed. Mokades asserted; "we've done it before and we can do it again though it's entirely up to the JCR to decide."
7th Oct 1999